Chapter 445

Chapter 445 She had scattered all the money she brought from the Bai family, barely managing to live the life expected of a Lady-in-waiting. Let alone compared to her days as a Baolin. In just half a month, she had grown thinner, and that fiery ambition of hers had been worn down considerably. With her spirit tempered, she became calmer and more capable of analyzing the situation with a cool head. Only then did Bai Fu suddenly realize that she had never truly understood Noble Consort Zhao, Xie Run. What she had perceived was merely the illusion visible to her naked eye. That was why she had been defeated at Xie Run's hands. Her rank was too low, her distance from Xie Run too great—she could never even reach the real Xie Run. To put it bluntly, she wasn't even worth Xie Run's effort to deal with personally. Once her house arrest ended, she immediately changed her strategy. She no longer dared to challenge Xie Run head-on, instead turning her gaze toward the Emperor. In this harem, no matter what rank one reached, it didn't count as victory. Only by winning the Emperor's favor and capturing his heart could one truly be called the victor. Bai Fu knew that given her current situation, capturing the Emperor's heart would be extremely difficult. But where there's a will, there's a way. She didn't aspire to much now—just a sliver of favor that could make her days more bearable and slowly build up her strength. She could completely endure and wait, just as she had in her previous life. Wait until she had accumulated enough power, then go against Xie Run again. Having composed herself, Bai Fu arranged a "chance" encounter with the Emperor in the imperial garden. "I'm not going." "Since the Emperor personally reprimanded Concubine Fang, if I still went, wouldn't I be committing an offense in the face of the wind?" She wouldn't do anything that would hand Xie Run a handle to use against her. Bai Fu smiled faintly, a hint of helplessness in her voice: "Now I can only be grateful that I kept my boundaries and didn't say anything improper. Otherwise, the one kneeling in Zhaohua Palace begging for punishment today would probably be me." "It seems the Emperor is serious about observing the full three years of mourning for the Retired Emperor." As she said this, Bai Fu felt only bitterness on her tongue. Her prospects, already dim, now showed not even the faintest glimmer of starlight. If the Emperor truly didn't enter the harem for three years, she feared she could be ground down to death by Xie Run without anyone even caring. Caiyue had originally thought her mistress had finally seen reason—knowing to direct her efforts toward the Emperor rather than fixating on Noble Consort Zhao. She had been relieved, thinking her life might be spared. But now, before her mistress could even display her abilities, the Emperor had reprimanded Concubine Fang, cutting off the path for consorts to seek favor. What was her mistress supposed to do now?! Bai Fu thought for a long while before speaking: "Find a way to inquire—see if the news that the Emperor will personally lead the campaign is true or false." Caiyue's tongue turned bitter, her face full of distress: "Mistress... we have no silver left." "Last time, when we inquired about the Emperor being in the imperial garden, we used up all our money." That silver had been obtained by Bai Fu pawning several pieces of jewelry. Bai Fu's expression darkened, her demeanor somewhat dazed. She muttered unconsciously: "How did Ben Gong let my life come to this?" Caiyue was so frightened her features twisted in panic: "Mistress, what nonsense are you saying?!" "You mustn't shout that carelessly! If those outside hear you, you'll surely earn another punishment." Only those of the second-rank Fei position, who governed an entire palace, were qualified to call themselves Ben Gong. For Bai Fu to utter the words "Ben Gong" was a grave overstepping of rank. In serious cases, it could even warrant execution. Caiyue felt despair. Her mistress must be possessed by a ghost! Bai Fu was stunned for a moment, then laughed at herself: "That's right, how did my life come to this?" In her previous life, even the hardest times hadn't seemed so hard. She had prided herself on climbing from Baolin to the Fei rank. Only now did she realize she had never truly suffered much. Both her past and present lives combined didn't compare to the torment of these six months in the palace. Bai Fu closed her eyes deeply, forcing herself to stop thinking about those agonizing matters. Caiyue said softly: "Mistress, should we still inquire about the Emperor's whereabouts?" "If the Emperor truly goes to lead the campaign personally, who knows how long before he returns." If the Emperor remained in the palace, there was still some possibility for consorts to seek his favor. If he left the palace, even a hundred tricks would be useless. Bai Fu opened the drawer and glanced at the few hairpins inside—all gold-wrapped silver, not worth much. Even if she sold them all for silver, she couldn't gather any information. She closed the drawer and said in a low voice: "I need to find a way to send word home, to have the family send some money." Caiyue: "But mistress, last time you sent a letter to the Marquis's residence, there was no reply after it went out..." Bai Fu cast her a sidelong glance: "Either the Marquis's household didn't receive the message, or they're still finding someone to pull strings." "The family has been living beyond its means these past two years as well. Sending money into the palace takes time to arrange." Caiyue didn't understand much, but she nodded obediently: "This servant will think of a way to ask someone to deliver the letter." "Go then." After Caiyue left, Bai Fu unclasped a jade pendant hanging around her neck. This was her last resort. This jade pendant was a gift from the Emperor when she had stayed in the palace accompanying Consort Ling in her youth. It was also a testament to that small bond she had shared with the Emperor in their childhood. In her previous life, her favored status had been greatly aided by this childhood bond. Now, the Emperor simply had not yet recognized who she was. As long as she had a chance to see the Emperor, and casually bring up Consort Ling and this jade pendant... She still had a chance! The Emperor was one to cherish old ties—he would never let her continue living in such torment! Bai Fu clutched the jade pendant in her palm, as if all her strength was concentrated there. This was her only chance. Caiyue stepped out of the room, her face full of worry. Just now inside, she had merely been humoring her mistress, but who would have thought the mistress would actually take her up on writing that letter? They had offended Noble Consort Zhao, and were already looked down upon in this palace. Even when they had money, it was hard to get things done; now without money, every step was difficult. She was just a lowly palace maid—without silver to pave the way, who would be willing to carry a letter from the palace to the Marquis of Loyalty's residence?! And yet the mistress actually expected her to do it. She didn't even know if she'd have enough to eat tomorrow—how could she possibly deliver a letter?! But Caiyue didn't dare go back just like that, afraid of Bai Fu's punishment. So she could only quietly sit in a corner of Fanghua Palace to bide her time. When enough time had passed, she slipped back in and hid the letter under the bedding. That night, she couldn't sleep easy, feeling that keeping the letter was like keeping evidence of a crime. If the mistress ever discovered it, she feared she wouldn't escape punishment, so she simply burned it in secret. The next day, while Bai Fu was dressing, she asked, "Caiyue, did the letter get sent?" Caiyue lowered her head, guilt-ridden, and said, "Yes, mistress, it's all been sent." Bai Fu paused mid-motion, then turned her head to look deeply at Caiyue. Caiyue was so nervous she forgot how to breathe. After a long moment, Bai Fu finally said, "Good, as long as it's sent. No matter what, at least my family should know of my situation." "I've made a mess of things and brought such hardship upon myself—I've dragged you into it as well." Caiyue quickly replied, "This servant has grown up following mistress since childhood. When mistress enjoyed good fortune, this servant enjoyed it too. Now that mistress's days are hard, this servant should share in them as well—how could that be called dragging me into it?!" "This servant only hopes that mistress's days will get better and better, and that she'll no longer be humiliated by others." Bai Fu said, "Is that so?" Caiyue widened her eyes and affirmed, "Of course it's true!" Bai Fu stared at Caiyue for a long while before letting out a sigh. "Then that's for the best." If Caiyue had betrayed her, then she couldn't blame her for being ruthless.